History Film / TheGreatMcginty

In a {{Flashback}}, we see how that came to be; [=McGinty=] was initially a bum, until he went to a soup kitchen one night and heard about a scheme to make money. He was directed to Skeeters (William Demarest), a political hack, who told him he could make $2 to vote for the mayor, as long as he asked for "Bill" at the voting place. [=McGinty=] asked him if he could make more money for voting more, and Skeeters, thinking [=McGinty=] a nut, said yes. So, [=McGinty=] voted 37 times, to the amazement of Skeeters. He brings [=McGinty=] to the Boss (Creator/AkimTamiroff), who runs the mayor's office and in general runs the political machine in the town. [=McGinty=] is thoroughly unimpressed, and even belligerent, but while the Boss doesn't appreciate the belligerence, he thinks [=McGinty=] has a certain style, so he hires him to collect "protection" money.

%%* VitriolicBestBuds: [=McGinty=] and The Boss seem to have settled into this relationship by the end of the film (out of necessity, since they're both fugitives).

* VitriolicBestBuds: [=McGinty=] and The Boss seem to have settled into this relationship by the end of the film (out of necessity, since they're both fugitives).

* NoBadassToHisValet: Deconstructed. Initially, when [=McGinty=] cracks wise to The Boss, slaps him back when slapped, and snarls "get yer finger out of my face", [[YouGotGuts The Boss is delighted by how tough and brash he is]], and gains an appreciation for the man as a roughneck who can get things done. Once he actually becomes The Boss's partner, [=McGinty=]'s insults and guff becomes the second biggest source of conflict between them (the first being his change of heart), and leads to constant physical squabbling.

* NoBadassToHisValet: Deconstructed. Initially, when [=McGinty=] cracks wise to The Boss, slaps him back when slapped, and snarls "get yer finger out of my face", [[YouGotGuts The Boss is delighted by how tough and brash he is]], and gains an appreciation for the man as a roughneck who can get things done. Once he actually becomes The Boss's partner, [=McGinty=]'s insults and guff becomes the second biggest source of conflict between them (the first being his change of heart), and lead to constant physical squabbling.

* FashionVictimVillain: In-universe; however much of those seventy-four dollars [=McGinty=] spent on that buffalo-checked suit and bowler hat, it was too much. It wouldn't even look quite so ridiculous if it wasn't on a man of his size and frame.

-->'''The Boss:''' Marriage is a wonderful thing; it's the most beautiful set-up between the sexes.
-->'''[=McGinty=]:''' Then why aren't you married?
-->'''The Boss:''' Because I ain't running for mayor!

-->'''[=McGinty=]:''' Listen, you fat little four-flusher!
-->'''The Boss:''' *Fat*? (''they start fighting'')

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_great_mcginty.jpg]]

In a {{Flashback}}, we see how that came to be; [=McGinty=] was initially a bum, until he went to a soup kitchen one night and heard about a scheme to make money. He was directed to Skeeters (William Demarest), a political hack, who told him he could make $2 to vote for the mayor, as long as he asked for "Bill" at the voting place. [=McGinty=] asked him if he could make more money for voting more, and Skeeters, thinking [=McGinty=] a nut, said yes. So, [=McGinty=] voted 37 times, to the amazement of Skeeters. He brings [=McGinty=] to the Boss (Akim Tamiroff), who runs the mayor's office and in general runs the political machine in the town. [=McGinty=] is thoroughly unimpressed, and even belligerent, but while the Boss doesn't appreciate the belligerence, he thinks [=McGinty=] has a certain style, so he hires him to collect "protection" money.

* AntiHero: [=McGinty=] ranges from Type III to Type V, and back again.

* InterruptedSuicide: McGinty stops a banker from killing himself at the beginning of the film.